Psalm 19- Thought of the Day.

 The song says it all.  

Amazing how God can lay something on your heart that is so personal 

and revealing of your heart's condition.

This is my prayer for today. 

A Mother's Prayer for Middle School

 Psalm 139- The Message Translation

1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
   I'm an open book to you;
      even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
   You know when I leave and when I get back;
      I'm never out of your sight.
   You know everything I'm going to say
      before I start the first sentence.
   I look behind me and you're there,
      then up ahead and you're there, too-
      your reassuring presence, coming and going.
   This is too much, too wonderful-
      I can't take it all in!

 7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
      to be out of your sight?
   If I climb to the sky, you're there!
      If I go underground, you're there!
   If I flew on morning's wings
      to the far western horizon,
   You'd find me in a minute-
      you're already there waiting!
   Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
      At night I'm immersed in the light!"
   It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
      night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.

 13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
      you formed me in my mother's womb.
   I thank you, High God-you're breathtaking!
      Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
      I worship in adoration-what a creation!
   You know me inside and out,
      you know every bone in my body;
   You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
      how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
   Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
      all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
   The days of my life all prepared
      before I'd even lived one day.

 17-22 Your thoughts-how rare, how beautiful!
      God, I'll never comprehend them!
   I couldn't even begin to count them-
      any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
   Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
      And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
  

 23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
      find out everything about me;
   Cross-examine and test me,
      get a clear picture of what I'm about;
   See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong-
      then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Finding Routine

For the first time, in my life, I have no set routine. For those of you who know me, you know how CRAZY that makes me. LA started school this week. My day now consists of getting her up, drinking coffee, taking her to school, coming home- waiting for job interviews, praying for phone calls about job interviews, and being disappointed when it is time to pick her up without job interviews. So yesterday, I took the bull by its horns, figuratively, and made a "to do" list. My schedule now includes a scheduled time with God-each day without fail, a few tasks to be done in the home- trying to not be so OCD for a husband who is NOT OCD in the least, looking for jobs- but not being anxious when they do not come, and spending quality time with my husband. There is the joy of my day. Spending time with Jon. Since I took the non-traditional way of parenting before marriage, this time is precious. We don't have the luxury of your typical newlyweds. We have a middle schooler... Which makes life interesting. So this week, I have learned the power of waiting, not panicking but waiting and treasuring these waiting moments.

Worry

I am definitely not eloquent this morning. I am excited to share what God revealed to me this morning during my alone time. But I don't know how to put it into words, other than to simply write what the author of my devotional wrote.

STRANGLING THE SOUL- Matthew 6:25-29

"Worry is thinking turned toxic, the imagination picturing the worst. The word "worry" comes from the root "to choke or strangle." Incisive insight. Worry does choke and strangle our creative capacity to think, hope and dream. It twists the joy out of life. We get dressed up like mountain climbers and climb over molehills. Worry changes nothing except the worrier. It becomes a habit.

At the core, it is a low-grade fever of agnosticism. When we worry, we express a lurking form of doubt that God either know, cares or is able to do anything. It is a form of loneliness-facing eventualities by ourselves on our meager strength. Worry is a distortion of our capacity to care.

In verses 31-34 is Jesus description of worry and His diagnosis of what to do about it. Three sources of worry are enumerated: what to eat, drink and wear. The list could be endless for most of us. What causes you to worry? Jesus does an amazing thing in this passage. He tells u to exchange secondary with one GREAT concern: He shows us the anxiety which can cure anxiety.

Our only concern should be to put God first in our lives. Then our only anxiety will be that we may miss the real reason we were born: to seek first the kingdom of God and to be right with Him. From your experience, How does putting God first banish worries? Why, after we say we have committed our lives to Christ and accepted His righteousness through the cross, do some of us still worry?

Thought for the day: Worry is interest paid on trouble before it becomes due.- William R. Inge."

Taken from God's Best for My Life

So today, I make an effort not to worry so much. God has a plan. I am a huge part of that plan. He loves my family and is constantly providing for us. I will not borrow worries from tomorrow. Jon and I will continue to look where God is at work and join Him to bring others to a relationship with Christ. Africa or Asia, California or New England or Easley or Charleston, South Carolina... We will follow. I will NOT WORRY!!!

Have thine own Way...

Over the past month or so, I have found much comfort in old hymns. Today, Have thine own way is on my heart. I went outside early this morning to really focus on Christ and spend time alone with Him. I used a commentary, God's Best for my Life. Its an old familiar favorite. I have used this devotional since I was a freshman in college. I have practically memorized several passages over the years.

Today's message centered around James 4:13-17.

"13Pay attention to this! You’re saying, “Today or tomorrow we will go into some city, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.” 14You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. 15Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.” 16However, you brag because you’re arrogant. All such bragging is evil. 17Whoever knows what is right but doesn’t do it is sinning."

Pretty powerful stuff for our family as we are constantly seeking God's will in our lives... our vocations... our family. I can think of a million examples of how I have "planned" our future... overseas missions work, occupations in remote areas of USA, going back to school. With very little guidance from God, I plan. But what I miss is the importance of my relationship with Christ here on earth. That is the one thing I will take with me into heaven. An even more amazing thought is that when I let it all go, I can feel the tension of my self planning fall off and I can trust that God, my God, can do so much more than I could ever cook up on my own.

So today, I give it all to God, who always has my best interest at heart.

"Have thine own way God,
Thou are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will.
While I am waiting yielded and still."

Psalms 23.

My daughter shared this as her favorite passage of scripture last night. It surprised me for her to declare that but quickly realized it was by far the longest scripture she had learned. What really touched my heart was the way she interpreted this scripture, saying that she held little pieces of it as promises from God.

Today as I began my day, I went to Psalm 23. Let's face it, our family is walking through a dark time full of uncertainty. I found this YouTube version and immediately knew it was God speaking to the quiet of my heart.

So today, I fear no evil. He gives me purpose, protection, and peace. Perfect Peace.

Changing Family

With all the changes in the past 8 months, my blog is one of the last things to change. Notice the changes... it is no longer The Changing Life of M.E. but rather, Our Changing Family. I think this is only appropriate. We are going through a time of transition.

Marriage is definitely wonderful. I can say that I love my husband more today than I did even a month ago. His patience and flexibility have been a huge addition to my Type A personality life. We are seeking God's will as to ministry and occupational opportunities. So far, we continue to wait, which is why Psalm 108:1 is heavy on my heart these days.

Parenting is also changing. My little one, although not so little, is starting middle school next week. Emotions are running high as she becomes anxious and excited at the same time. She is beginning a new school. We are thankful for this change. Jon and I both felt God leading us to change her school this year due to her school being overcrowded. But this intensifies the stress level on her.

So stay tuned... along this journey of faith. It will so exciting to see how God continues to mold us and shape us in the coming weeks and months.